Peat digging apparatus



Feb. 11, 1947. E, F, BY 2,415,728

FEAT DIGGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet, l

Feb. 11, 1947. E BY 2,415,728

PEAT DIGGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1944 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 11,1947. E. F. COLBY 2,415,728-

PEAT DIGGING- APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feh. 1 1, 194? .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PEAT DIGGIN G APPARATUS EliF. Colby, Hams, Iowa Application August 28, 1944, Serial No. 551,551

12 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in peat digging apparatus whereinit is desired to provide a device for removing peat from the ground andfor maintaining the peat in brick or block form. i I

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in digging peat from theground. While this material may be easily dug through the use of a powershovel or the like, it is often necessary to form the peat thus dug intoblocks or billets so that it may be properly dried and handled. The peatis normally found in compacted state in the ground, but the diggingoperation ordinarily breaks up the peat into finely divided particles inwhich state the peat is difficult to dry or handle.

It is the object of the present invention to dig peat from the ground innaturally compacted blocks or bricks and to maintain the peat in itsnaturally compacted form so that it may be readily handled. Such aresult has sometimes been accomplished by hand, but in such an instancethe blocks are usually not of uniform size and the digging of the blocksmanually is a costly operation. Through the use of my peat diggingapparatus the .blocks are harvested in uniform size and at a speed whichresults in an economical operation.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a diggingapparatus capable of traveling along the surface of the peat, andemploying shovels or blades which extend down into the earth in such amanner that the peat remains in block form and may be removed in thisstate. In order to accomplish this result it is necessary to force theshovel blade into the earth along a substantially straight path and'tothen incline the digging blade in a manner to break the block of peataway from the adjoining peat body.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a diggingapparatus designed to travel along the surface of the body of peat at auniform rate of speed, and to provide on this movable apparatus bladeswhich may be forced down into the earth along a substantially straightpath. In order to accomplish this result the downwardly urged blade mustmaintain a fixed angle with respect to the peat as the blade penetratesthe same during the time the remainder of the digging apparatus ismoving forwardly. As a result an unusual blade opera-ting mechanism isrequired.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an apparatusincorporating one or more digging bladesarranged to enter the body ofpeat along substantially parallel planes and to provide cutter blades onthe rear surface of the digging blade or blades. These cutter blades cutthe body of peat beneath the digging blade. As a result as the diggingblade again enters the peat this material is cut into substantiallyrectangular blocks or pillars. Thus each time the digging blade entersthe peat it cuts the peat along three sides of the blocks to be dug inthe next operation. The next subsequent insertion of the blade into thepeat completes the cutting of the pillars or blocks previously out alongthree sides and partially completes additional blocks.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a peatdigging shovel capable of cutting peat into .blocks or bricks, and whichsupports these blocks and bricks freely as lifted. The blocks of peatare merely friction upon the shovel as they are elevated.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of apeat digging apparatus which includes shovels capable of digging blocksof peat and depositing the same upon a conveyor or the like. Each shovelis so supported that it may be inverted so as to deposit the peat gentlyupon the surface of the ground or upon a suitably arranged conveyor.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a shovelpivotally supported along a line off-set from the axis thereof. As aresult peat dug from the ground maybe gently deposited at a pointlaterally spaced from the point 1' extraction.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan view diagrammatically illustrating my peatdigging apparatus.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the peat digging shovels.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of my peat digging apparatus inoperation.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic the digging apparatus in that shown in Figure3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure lshowing a later step in thedigging operation. s

Figure 6 is a detail View of the lock employed to hold the shovel fromrotation.

The peat digging apparatus A, illustrated in general in Figure 1 of thedrawings, comprises a frame l0 supported by endless treads H,such as arein common use. The treads H are supported side view showing a differentposition from they are held by betweenthe sleeves. I

by wheels such as the wheel l2 in Figure 3 of the drawings, which issupported by the frame [9. The wheels l2 are provided with sprockets 13,or are sprocket shaped to accommodate the treads l i and to drive thesame.

The wheels l2 are supported upon axles l4 upon which are mountedsuitable chain sprockets to support the chains l5. The chains 15 arepref erably operated by clutch sprockets mounted upon the transverseshaft 18. The shaft I9 is; driven through the beveled gears l7, one ofwhich is mounted upon the longitudinally extending shaft l9. The shaftl9 supports a sprocket 29 upon which is engaged the chain 2| which alsoengages the sprocket 22 on the longitudinal shaft 23. A sprocket 24 onthe-shaft 23 is operated by a chain 2-5 driven by a sprocket 26 on theengine crank shaft 21. The engine 29 mounted upon the frame l thus mayselectively drive the and-- less treads ll through the clutch sprocketsl so that either or both of the endless treads l i may be operated.

It will be noted that the shaft l6 rotates at a low speed relative tothat of the engine 29 as in the power transmission system justdescribed. The drive sprockets are smaller than the driven sprockets.Thus the treads are operated at a relatively low speed with respect tothe speed of rotation of the engine 29.

The engine crank shaft 21 also drives a sprocket 30 engaging a belt .31also mounted upon a sprocket 32. The sprocket 32 is mounted upon theshaft 33 which extends into the differential housing 34. Power istransmitted through the differential within the housing 94 and power issupplied through the differential to clutches 35 and 36. A shaft 37 isdriven through the clutch 35 and operates a pinion 39. The pinion 39rotates a gear 40 which carries the digging mechanism as will be laterdescribed.

'A shaft M is operated by the clutch 35. The shaft 4| supports asprocket 42 on which a chain 43 is mounted to drive a similar sprocket44 on the transverse stub shaft 45. Movement is transmitted through thebevel gears 46 to the longitudinai shaft 4'! which supports one end ofan endless belt conveyor 49. The other end ofthe conveyor 49 may passover an idle pulley to be supported thereby. I b

With particular reference now to the peat digging mechanism it will benoted that the gear 49 is mounted for rotation with a stub shaft 59which projects from the hub of the gear 49. A pair of oppositelydisposed internally threaded sleeves 51 project radially from theprojecting shaft 59 and threaded arms 52 are adjustably supported inthese sleeves 5!. Lock nuts 53 hold the rods 52 in adjusted position.Yokes or cradles 54 are provided at the extreme ends of the threadedrods 52 for a purpose which will hereinafter be described in detail. 7 V

Stub shafts 55 having their axes parallel to the axes of the gear 49extend outwardly fromthe outer face of this gear. The shafts 55 arediametrically opposed and are positioned near the periphery of the gear48. The stub shafts 55 each support a bearing sleev 59 which is securedto a second bearing sleeve 51 having its axis on a plane at right anglesto a plane through the axis of the adjacent sleeve 56. In other words,the bearing sleeves 5B and 51 are tangentially connected together withthe axis of each sleeve extending at right angles to aplane through theaxis'of the other sleeve and through the pointof connection A shaft 59is rotatably supported in each of the bearing sleeves 51. A pulley issecured to each shaft 59. A short length of flexible chain or cable BIis terminally connected to each pulley 69. A bracket arm 62 is securedto each sleeve unit 56 and 51, projecting in the general direction ofthe center of the gear 49. The spring 93 is interposed between the innerextremity of each bracket arm 52 and the free end of the chain or cable6 I. This spring 63'tends to rotate the shaft 59 in one direction, therotation of the shaft 59 in the opposite y direction winding the chainor cable 61 upon the pulley 50 and stretching the spring 63. A gear orsprocket 94 for rotating the shaft 59 is secured for rotation with thisshaft. As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, a channelbracket 65 is secured to the end of the shaft 59 to project to one sidethereof. The channel bracket 65 forms a support for the shovel or bladeelement illustrated in general by the numeral 66 and forms one end ofthe shovel or blade element. An arm 51 extends parallel to the bracket65 in spaced relation thereto. The bracket 65 and arm 61 are connectedby two spaced opposed angle members 59 and by an intermediate supportingstrip 79,

Cutting blades ll project rearwardly from the arm Bl for a purpose whichwill be later described in detail.

A ratchet arm 12 is supported upon a ratchet shaft 13 which extendsthrough lugs 14 on the sleeve 56. Each ratchet arm 12 engages a lug 15on a surface of each gear 64. The arm 12 is held normally in engagementwith the surfaceof the gear 54 by means of a spring 16.

The ratchet shaft 13 is provided with a second arm 1'! substantiallyparallel to the ratchet arm '13. This arm ll is engageable with the edge19 of a curved rack positioned beyond the periphery of the gear 40 andofi-set laterally from the outer surface thereof. The rack 80 isproperly positioned to engage the gear or sprocket 54 on the shaft 59and the arm TI is properly proportioned to engage the rack edge 19 justbefore the gear or sprocket 64 engages the rack 80 so as to release thegear 64 for rotation just before rotation of the gear or sprocket by therack 89 is initiated.

As shown'in Figure 6, a lug i5 is provided on the gear 64 substantiallydiametrically opposed to the lug [5. In one extreme position of theshovel blade, the lug 15' engages the fixed stop I8 on the sleeve 57. Inother extreme position, the lug 15 en ages the stop 19, or else the lug15' may engage a second fixed lug on the sleeve 51. Thus rotation of theshovel in both directions is limited.

As best illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, an arm 81projects rearwardly from the channel bracket 65 and an arm 82 projectsrear wardly from the sleeve 51. A spring 83 is interposed between thearms 8! and 82, a flexible chain or cable 84 forming a part of thisconnection. The spring 83 is expanded as the shovel 56 rotates about itsaxis and this spring 83 assists the spring 63 in returning the shovel toits normal position. On an axis extending substantially parallel to theaxis of the gear 49 in normal position of the shovel 96 I provide aroller 85 on the extreme end of each shaft 59. The rollers 85 engage acam track 85 which is supported by the frame of the apparatus infixedposition. The cam track 86 acts to guide the shovel blades 66 into theearth at a predeter-- minedangle. This angle of the blade is normallymaintained during the insertion of 'the shovel 75 ;until theproper-depth of stroke is reached, whereveyor 49,

upon the shovel will lift the out blocks of peat and has entered theearth. It will be'noted at this point of the operation that the roller85 is engaged in the cam track 86 holding the shaft 59 at a slight angleto the vertical. It will also be noted that the stub shaft 55 aboutwhich the shovel arm of the shovel B3 entering the earth pivots, isapproximately the same height as the gear shaft Rotation of the gear 43in a countor-clockwise direction causes the shovel blade 66 to be forcedinto the earth-at a substantially constant angle and the speed ofrotation of the gear 4!! is so synchronized with the speed of travel ofthe treads ll that the rearward movement of the stub shaft 55substantially equals the forward movement of the shaft 50.

Figure 4 of the drawings illustrates the shovel 65 at a. later stage ofinsertion. It will be noted that at this point of the operation theroller 85 has been disengaged from the cam track (it. The hub 59 of thegear -El is moving forwardly with the apparatus, but the stub shaft 55is moving rearwardly due to rotation of the gear This movementeventually brings the yoke end 56 of the .threaded rod 52 intoengagement with the shaft 55.

Engagement of the shaft 59 by the yoke tends to hold the shovel at afixed angle relative to the gear to. Figure 5 shows the shaft to inengagement with the adjustable stop Thus as soon as relative pivotalmovement about the stub shaft 55 is arrested the shovel will beginitsoperation of lifting the peat blocks onto the con- The liftingoperation of the shovel continues until the arm ll disengages theratchet arm l2 from its lug l5 and the gear or sprocket G l en gages thearcuated rack 8d. Once the shaft 59 is free torotate about its axis andthe gear 6 1 engages the rack to the inter-engagement between the racl:and the gear rotates the shaft til substantially one hundred eightydegrees. This movement obviously inverts the shovel 56. As the shovel isoff-set from the shaft 5% rotation of the shovel acts to move the shovelinto position above the end of the Conveyor 4 9 as best illustrated'inFigure 1 of the drawings. Thebloclis of peat are'accordingly depositedupon the conveyor 49 for conveying upwardly to be either removed by handor deposited into a suitable receptacle.

It is interesting to note that the blocks of peat are partially cutduring the preceding operation. In other words, as the shovel 6E5 entersthe body of peat the rearwardly projecting blades ll out along threeparallel planes as indicated by the dotted line 8?. Thus as the shovelenters the ground it cuts into the peat along the fourth side of twoparallel rectangular pillars or blocks of peat, completing the formationthereof. This feature is important as I have found that when thebladessuch as ll project forwardly from the shovel they not only do notproperly cut the blocks, but furthermore they interfere with thedropping of the blocks onto the-conveyor. Thus after one action of theshovel 66, the next two '6 blocks to be removed are completely out aboutthree; sides of the same.

After the blocks B of peat have been deposited upon the conveyor 49 theshovel to is returned to its initial position by means of the springs53' and 83.- This return of the shovel to its normal position takesplace immediately after the gear or sprocket 64 is disengaged from theend of the rack at. In reality the shovel E6 would normally be returnedto starting position by the time the shovel reaches the position shownat the right hand side of Figure 3 of the drawings. How

ever, it is desired to show one shovel in its posi-v tion as it startsentering the earth and the in: verted position of the other shovel hasbeen shown to avoid the necessity of an additional figure in thedrawings.

The connection between the arms BI and 82 is somewhat slack so thatconsiderable rotation of the shovel may take place before expansion ofthe spring 83 is initiated. Thus the spring 33 merely supplements actionof the spring 63 during the start of the return rotation of the shovel.The spring 83 thereby aids the spring 63 in overcoming inertia and oncethe rotation of the shovel in a return direction has been started thespring 83 ceases to function.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my peat digging apparatus, and while Ihave endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire tohave it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope ofthe following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A peat digging apparatus comprising a movable traction member, arotatable member mounted upon a transverse axis thereupon, shovel meansrotatably mounted upon a transverse aXls on said rotatable member spacedfrom and parallel to said'first named transverse axis, said rotatablemember urging said shovel means into the ground, and means on saidrotatable member for holding said shovel means in fixed relation to saidrotatable member during part of the rotation thereof so as to lift saidshovel.

2. A peat digging apparatus comprising a longitudinally movable support,a rotatable member having a transverse axis on said support, a shovelcarried by said rotatable member and pivotally supported thereby, fixedmeans on said movable support cooperating with said shovel on saidrotatable member to guide said shovel into the ground as said rotatablemember rotates, and means on said rotatable member engageable with saidshovel-to limit pivotal movement thereof 7 with respect to saidrotatable means.

3. A peat digging apparatus comprising a longitudinally movablesupporting vehicle, a rotatable member supported upon a transverse axison said vehicle, a shovel pivotally secured to said rotatable memberalong a transverse axis, a fixed means for guiding said shovel into theground upon rotation of said rotatable member during movement of saidvehicle, and means on said rotatable member engageable with said shovelto limit pivotal movement of said shovel relative to said rotatablemember, said last named means engaging said shovel at substantially thepoint of deepest penetration of said shovel.

4. A peat digging apparatus comprising a, traction vehicle, a rotatablemember secured on an axis extending transversely of said vehicle, ashovel pivotally secured to said rotatable member,

plane as said rotatable member forces said'shovel into the peat, andmeans on said rotatable member engageable with said shovel to limitpivotal movement thereof relative to said rotatable member, said lastnamed means engaging said shovel at substantially the point of deepestpenetration of said shovel.

5. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, a rotatablemember mounted upon an axis extending transversely of said vehicle, ashovel pivoted to said rotatable member on an axis parallelto saidtransverse axis, said shovel also being pivotal about an axis extendinglongitudinally thereof, means for guiding said shovel into the earthalong a substantially straight path, means engageable with said shovelfor limiting pivotal movement of said shovel about said parallel axis,and means for, rotating said shovel about said longitudinal axis.

6. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axisextending transversely thereof, a; rotatable member supported upon saidaxis, a transverse axis on said rotatable member, a shovel supported onsaid axis on said rotatable member, means rotatably supporting saidshovel about an axis extending longitudinally thereof, means normallyholding said shovel from rotation about said longitudinal axis and meansreleasing said shovel for rotation about said longitudinal axis.

' '7. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, a shaftextending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported upon saidtransverse axis, a transverse pivot on said rotatable member, a shovelpivotally supported by said pivot, said shovel being pivotal about anaxis extending longitudinally thereof, means normally holding saidshovel from rotation about said longitudinal axis, means releasing saidshovel for rotation about said longitudinal axis, and means for rotatingsaid shovel about said longitudinal axis.

8. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, shovelsupporting mechanism for urging a shovel into the earth, a shovellongitudinally pivoted along one side edge thereof by said shovelsupporting mechanism, means holding said shovel from pivotal movementabout its longitudinal axis, means releasing said holding means, andmeans for rotating said shovel about its longitudinal axis.

9. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axisextending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported upon saidaxis, a transverse pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel supported bysaid pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported along an axisextending longitudinally thereof, means normally urging said shovel inone rotative direction, and means for 8 rotating said shovel in theother rotatlve direction about said longitudinal axis.

10. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axisextending transversely thereof, a, rotatable member supported by saidaxis, a pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel pivotally supportedupon said pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported on an aXlSextending longitudinally thereof, means normally holding said shovelfrom rotation, a gear on said shovel coaxial with said longitudinalaxis, and a fixed rack engageable with said gear in one rotativeposition of said shovel to rotate said shovel about said longitudinalaxis.

11. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, anaxis'extending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported bysaid axis, a pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel pivotallysupported upon said pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported on anaxis extending longitudinally thereof, said shovel being off-set to oneside of said longitudinal axis, and means cooperating with said shovelin one rotative position thereof to rotate said shovel along said1ongitudinal axis to invert said shovel and to move the contents thereoflaterally.

12. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axisextending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported by saidaxis, a pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel pivotally supportedupon said pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported on an axisextending longitudinally thereof, said shovel being oiT-set from saidlongitudinal axis, means engageable with said shovel during rotationthereof with said rotatable means to rotate said shovel about itslongtiudinal axis to invert said shovel and to move the contents of saidshovel laterally, and a conveyor onto which the contents of said shovelmay be placed upon rotation thereof about said longitudinal axis.

ELI F. COLBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Swiss Dec. 1, 1919

